Steam trap



Filed DeC. 16, 1955 2 SlleelZs-Shee 2 MM au ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEAM TRAP Gustav F. Gerdts, Bremen, Germany Application December 16, 1935, Serial No. 54,610

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a steam trap, and it refers more particularly to a device for removing water of condensation from steam conduits, heating installations, steam boiler plants and the like, said device being provided with an enclosed float and being automatically operated by the level of the water acting upon said float.

Automatically operable devices of this type are usually actuated through the application of comlO paratively little force and their dimensions depend generally upon the dimensions of the float or floating element, the movements of which are transmitted to a very sensitive lever mechanism. Sens' ive mechanisms of this type break very easily, particularly as they are subjected to Corrosion, water pressure, scale formation and the like. The condensed water frequently flows with a high velocity and may contain a large percentage of oil, dirt and the like. Due to these conditionsl devices of this type break very often and must be constructed in such manner that the movable parts thereof are easily accessible in order that the operator may inspect them and quickly determine the cause of a breakdown. The necessity of quickly repairing devices of this type is particularly important since a breakdown of one of j' them may cause considerable loss of steam in the plant.

An object of the present invention is the pro- Vision of a device for removing condensate water, the entire movable mechanism of which may be quickly, easily and conveniently inspected.

Another object is the provision of a device having a float which operates a valve closing and opening mechanism, all the parts of the device being readily accessible.

A further object is the provision of a device of this type, all the elements of which may be easily inspected by an operator, particularly as far as the movements and the cooperation of these elements are concerned.

A still further object is the provision of a device for removing a condensate, the operative elements of which may be inspected without removing said device from the conduits to which it is attached.

The above and other objects of the present invention may be realized through the provision of a device comprising a single comparatively elongated central body carrying all the movable parts of the device, and/or all elements which are necessai-y for the operation of the device, such as the float and the lever connected therewith, valve closing and opening means, passages for transi5 mitting the water t0 Said means, and the like.

'Ihis central body thus constitutes the major portion of the casing of the device. According to the present invention, all other parts of the casing have the form of covers or caps enclosing parts which are carried by the central body and which project therefrom, said covers and caps being attached to said central body. In accordance with a. preferred form of the invention, the central body carries two caps, one of which covers the float, while the other covers the valve opening and closing mechanism.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a section along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the Valve shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the covers removed.

Figure 4 is a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows in side elevation a valve of a somewhat diierent construction.

Figure 6 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the device illustrating a modification permitting direct connection between the inlet and the outlet passages.

The device illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings comprises a central body 6 having the form of an elongated chassis which isv comparatively narrow in form. That portion of the body t which is situated close to the ange 'I carrying the cover 8 for the float 9, is narrower than the other portions of the body 6.

The body 6 contains an inlet passage I0 through which the water flows through the chamber I I, as indicated by the arrow I2. The valve body 6 also contains an outlet passage I3 which is in communication with a horizontal passage I4 and through which the water flows out of the device in the direction of the arrow I5. A flange I6 is situated substantially opposite the flange 1 and is used for supporting a cover or cap I1 which covers the valve operating mechanism 23.

The body is also provided with a ilange I8 which is firmly connected with one end of a pipe I 9 through which water is introduced into the inlet passage I0 of the body 6. Another flange 20 is situated at the opposite side of the flange I8 and is rmly connected with an outlet pipe 2l through which water iiows out of the body 6. The interior of the pipe 2| is in communication with the passage I3.

The body 5 comprises also a tubular portion or member 22 which contains the passage I4. The member 22 extends substantially at right angles to the main portion of the body 5 and constitutes an integral part of the body 5. The member 22 carries the valve closing and opening means 23 of the usual type. These means comprise a support 2li carrying a p-ivot 25 which supports one end of a lever 25,v the opposite end of which is attached to the float 9. The bent portion 21 of the lever 26, which is situated adjacent the pivot 25, is provided with two abutments 28 and 29 which are situated on opposite sides of the lever 25. The abutments 28 and 29 are adapted to come in contact with a valve body member 35i, which is reciprocably mounted in a guide 3I forming a part of the support 22. Due to this arrangement, an oscillation of the lever causes a movement of the member which opens and closes the outlet opening 32 of the passage I4. The oscillation of the lever 26 is caused automatically by the float Si which floats upon the water filling the interior 33 of the cover 8.

Bolts 36 are used for attaching the cover 8 to the flange 1 of the central body 5. The cap I1 which covers the valve operating mechanism 23 is situated under a supp-ort 35 which is mounted upon a pivot 33 carried by the central body 5. The support 35 is provided with inner screw threads meshing With the screw threads of a bolt 36 having an end portion 31 which may be brought into engagement with a flat surface 3a of the cover I1. Due to this arrangement, the bolt 35 presses the cover l1 against the flange Iii of the body 5. Due to the provision of the pivot 39 the support 35 can be swung to one sid-e when it is desired to remove the cover I1, so that the supp-ort 35 does not interfere with the removal of the cover I1.

As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, the valve body ii is narrow in forni so that the cover I1 is also comparatively narrow. The cover I1 may be made of comparatively thin material such as steel sheets f or the like. In the example illustrated, the cover l1 comprises two frames ii and 4I which carry glass plates 42 and 33.

Due to this arrangement the operator can conveniently observe the function of the valve closing mechanism 23 without removing the cover I1.

The body 6 also carries the adjusting lever i4 having an arm 10 which may be brought in contact with the lever 25 to maintain the valve mechanism 23 in its open position.

The central body 6 also carries a bolt 45 which may be taken out whenever it is necessary to remove the water from the chamber I I.

A small valve is carried by the central body 5 and is in communication with the inlet passage I0. The valve 45 is used to remove the air which flows into the interior of the device along with the water ovving in the direction of the arrow I2.

As shown in Figure 2, the central body 5 is quite narrow in the vicinity of the flange 1, so that the glass plates i2 and i3 may be placed quite close to the mechanism 23 and may be conveniently used for inspecting the operation thereof.

As shown in Figure 3, the cover 8 and the cover I1 may be conveniently removed by unscrewing the bolt 34 and the bolt 35, respectively, which press the two covers tightly against the flange 1 and flange I6 of the body 6. It is apparent that after the covers 8 and I1 have been removed, the

' movable elements of `and I1`is situated underneath the pipes entire mechanism of the device can be easily and conveniently inspected. The highest position of the noat 9 is shown by broken lines in Figure 3.

The device illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings is used in connection with pipe lines which transmit the water vertically from a higher point to a lower point. The device comprises a central body provided with a vertical inlet pipe 5I and a vertical outlet pipe 52. The inlet pipe 5I is provided with a flange 53 and is tightly connected with a vertical pipe 54. The outlet pipe 52 is provided with a flange 55 which is firmly connected with a pipe 56. Water circulates through the device in the direction of arrows 51.

A pipe 58 which is similar to the member 22 shown in Figure 1, forms an integral part of the central body 50 and contains the passage 59, which is in communication with the interior of the pipe 56.

The central body is provided with two flanges 6D and 6I which are situated on opposite sides of the central body. A cap or cover 52 is attached to the flange and is used for the purpo-se of covering the iioat. A cap 53 is attached to the flange 6| and is used for the purpose of covering the mechanism which closes and opens the passage 59. This mechanism, as well as the float which operates the same, are similar to those described in connection with the device shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the trated in Figure 5.

It will be apparent that as soon as the twol covers 8 and I1, or the two covers 52 and 63 are removed, the float Sand the mechanism 23 become immediately accessible, so that the operator, by moving the float 9, can easily ascertain how the mechanism 23 operates. Should a breakdown occur, the operator will be able to determine at once the cause and the extent of such a breakdown.

According to the present invention, all the the valve are attached to the valve body so that the casings or 52, which surround the float 5 may have the form of thin and light caps.

The valve constructed in accordance with thev present invention, has the further advantage that it can resist considerable forces and pressures. The covers 8 and G2 surrounding the float vmay be made of thin steel sheets, since they do not contain any channels or similar parts, all such channels being formed in the central body 6 or 5U.

In the example illustrated in Figures l to 4 of the drawings, the two flanges I1 and i6 of the body 5 are situated opposite each other. The flanges 5l! and 6I of the valve body 5B shown in Figure 5 are disposed in a similar manner. This arrangement has the advantage that the pipes I9 and 2| and the tained in alignment with each other.

The further advantage of the device shown in Figure-s l to 4 is that the body 6 with its covers 8 a I9 and 2l, so that these pipes do not interfere with the inspection of and repair work on/the device.

The construction of the device in accordance drawings, and are not illuspipes 54 and 56 may be main-J with the present invention has the further advantage that the inlet passage I0 and the outlet devices closing and opening mechanism is to central substantially vertical body having a vertake place, so that the device may be inspected tical inlet passage and a vertical outlet passage without interfering with the steam pressure. formed therein and comprising two annular What is claimed is:- ilanges situated substantially opposite each other 5 1. In a device for removing a condensate, a and in alinenlent With eaCll Other, One 0f Said 5V central body, said central body being of elongated annular IlangeS SUIIOllnding the end 0f Said inlet form and having an inlet and an outlet passage passage and being adapted t0 be COnneCted t0 an i formed therein, a mechanism carried by said inlet pipe, the other one of. said ilanges surround- M elongated body and projecting from one side of ing the end of said outlet passage and being said body for connecting said inlet passage with adapted to be connected t0 an Outlet pipe, Said 10 said outlet passage and for interrupting this con- Central body comprising tWO Other flanges situnection, a oat projecting from the opposite side ated below the first-mentioned flanges, a valve of said elongated body, a lever having one end lneChaniSm Carried by Said body for interconconnected with said float and the other end connecting said passages and for interrupting this nected with said mechanism, a removable cover Connection, a Oat, a lever having one end con- 15 carried by said body and enclosing said noat, and neCted With Said loat and the other end Conanother removable cover earned by said body and neeted with said valve mechanism, a removable enclosing said mechanism whereby said two recover connected to one of the second-mentioned movable covers are situated on opposite sides of ilanges and enclosing said iloat, and another resaid elongated body, so that the device may be movable cover enclosing said valve mechanism 20 readily inspected. and connected to the other one of the second- 2. In a device for removing a condensate, a nielltOned flanges. central body having passages for the inlet and 5. In a deViCe fOI IenlOVntf` a @Onde/risate, an

outlet of a fluid formed therein, said body comelongated central body having an inlet passage prising two annular anges situated on opposite and an outlet passage formed therein and com- 25 sides thereof; two covers, each of said covers prising a projecting portion containing a pasbeing adapted to be attached to a separate sage which is in communication with said outlet ange, and means connecting said inlet passage passage, a float, a lever having one end con- With said outlet passage, said means comprising nected with said neat, a removable cover cara valve mechanism carried by said body, a lever ried by said body and enclosing said float, the 30 operatively connected with said valve mechanism interior of said cover being in communication and a float connected with said lever, said oat with said inlet passage, another removable cover which projects from one side of said central body carried by said body and enclosing the projecting being surrounded by one of said covers the inteportion of said central body, the interior of the rior of which is in communication with said inlet second-mentioned cover being in communica- 35 passage, said valve mechanism being surrounded tion with the interior of the first-mentioned cover, by the second one of said covers and projecting a valve mechanism carried by the projecting from the opposite side of said central body, portion or" the central body for interconnecting whereby said device is made readily accessible the passage of the projecting portion with the for inspection and repair. interior of the second-mentioned cover and for 40 3, In a device for removing a condensate, an interrupting said connection, said valve mechelongated body, said body having two substantialanism beine operatively connected with the other ly parallel passages formed therein, one of said end Of Said leVel, and a pail 0f glass plates Cal'- passages serving as an inlet for a iiuid while the ricci by the second-mentioned cover and situated .j other one of. said passages serves as an outlet for Substantially Opposite eaCh Other and adjacent said fluid, two anges situated substantially op- Said ValVe mechanism. posit@ each other and forming an integra] pari; 6. Ill a, device fol removing a COllde'IlSate, an 0f said body, 2, @over adapted '30 be Connected t0 ellgavted SllbSlJa-lllltlly VeI'lCal Central bOdy llaV- one of said flanges, another cover connected ina' a Vetial inlet paSSage and a Vertical outto other one of the said flanges, each of said let passage formed therein and comprising an 50 covers having the form of a hollow container, the alflifllllal` tOp liange Which surrounds the end of interior of the nist-mentioned cover being in Said inlet passage and Which iS adapted t0 be Communication with the inlet passage, a, valve connected to an inlet pipe, and an annular botmechanism for closing and opening the outlet tOIn hang@ Situated substantially underneath 5 passage, said mechanism being situated Within Saifl tOp flange andSlillOllnding the end of said 55 thesecond-mentioned cover, and being carried Outlet passage; a valve mechanism carried by -bfsaid body, the interior of the second-mcn- Said body for inteieenneeting said passages and tioned cover being in communication with the infol" interrupting this Connection, a iloat, a lever terior of the first-mentioned cover, a lever havhaving One endjCOnneCted With Said float and 0' ing'cne end connected with said mechanism and the Othe1 end @Onneeted With Said Valve IneCh- 60 a oat situated within the hrst mentioned cover aniSin, a FenOVable COVeI Calied by Said body and connected to the other end of said lever, said and enClOSing Said neat, and another removable float and said valve mechanism projecting from COVer Carried by Said body and enClOSing Said opposite sides of said elongated body. Valve mechanism- 5 4. In a device for removing a condensate, a GUSTAV RGERDTS. 65 

